Official-source research checklist
Which official sources to check before relying on a tariff estimate.
Why an official-source checklist matters
Most tariff mistakes do not come from arithmetic. They come from missing one layer of the review: a Chapter 99 note, an exclusion expiration, an AD/CVD order, a quota, a product-safety requirement, or a stale classification assumption.
TariffsChart treats official-source research as a checklist, not an automatic determination.
U.S. import checklist
For U.S. imports, review at least:
- USITC HTS: base HTS description, General duty field, Special duty field, Column 2, units, footnotes, and Chapter 99 notes.
- CBP CROSS: rulings for similar products, materials, functions, and use cases.
- USTR Section 301: China-specific lists, exclusions, extension notices, and Chapter 99 reporting codes.
- Federal Register: new tariff actions, effective dates, exclusions, proposed rulemakings, and correction notices.
- AD/CVD ACCESS: active anti-dumping or countervailing-duty orders that may apply by product scope, not just HTS code.
- CBP CSMS / guidance: implementation messages, entry instructions, refunds, and administrative details.
- Preference programs: USMCA, GSP-like programs when applicable, free-trade agreement rules, and origin documentation.
What TariffsChart can help organize
TariffsChart can help you collect source URLs, retrieval dates, route context, candidate HS/HTS codes, and open questions. That structure is useful because it makes the final broker or counsel review faster and less ambiguous.
The site may show official-source fields when they are available, such as a USITC HTS base duty row or a WTO HS6 recent schedule row. It should not auto-apply trade-remedy layers unless the source and scope are clear.
What still needs professional review
Always confirm:
- Product classification facts and full 10-digit HTS line.
- Whether Section 301, Section 232, Chapter 99, AD/CVD, quotas, safeguards, or exclusions apply.
- Country of origin and substantial transformation.
- Customs valuation and Incoterms treatment.
- Product admissibility, labels, permits, partner-government-agency rules, and safety rules.
Good output format
A useful research note should include:
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Product | Cotton knit T-shirt |
| Candidate HTS | 6109.10.00 |
| Origin / destination | China to United States |
| Base source | USITC HTS URL + retrieved date |
| Extra layers | Section 301 List 4A, Chapter 99 check |
| Confidence | Source-backed base rate, trade remedies need review |
| Open question | Confirm exact 10-digit line and exclusions with broker |
The point is not to look official. The point is to make the remaining uncertainty explicit.